Research Notes:

Many early government records record John HELY's surname as HEALY, HEALEY, HAYLEY, HALY

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John HELY was described as 5'10" tall, dark-pale complexion, black hair and hazel eyes. 14535

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1. Occupation. Shipbuilder mainly, although he is also listed as a baker (shiplist) and as a butcher (Ticket of Leave)

2. Conviction; May 1819, Dublin City, Ireland. Crime unknown

3. Arrival in Australia; 19 Sep 1820. Arrived as a convict, serving a 7-year sentence. Crime unknown.

4. Assignment; 29 Sep 1820. On list of convicts disembarked from the "Dorothy" and forwarded to Emu Plains for distribution

5. Petition; 1822. Servant of William Redfern. Petition for mitigation of sentence

6. Assignment; 30 Jun 1823. On list of prisoners assigned

7. Petition (II); 1822-Dec 1823. Servant of William Redfern. Re petition for mitigation of sentence

8. Memorial; 1823. Husband of Lucretia Healy. Memorial

9. Petition (III); 1824. Former servant of William Redfern; wharfinger at Pennant Hills. Petition for mitigation of sentence

10. Job Application; 1825. Wharfinger. Application for a position with Surveyor of Distilleries

11. Memorial; 20 Sep 1825. Wharfinger at Pennant Hills. Memorial of his wife Lucretia

12. Ticket of Leave; 7 Oct 1825. Requesting a ticket of leave

13. Ticket of Leave Granted; 26 Nov 1825. Wharfinger of Pennant Hills. To be granted a ticket of leave

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November 1828 Census:

Hely, John, 40, free by servitude, Dorothy, 1820, 7 years, Protestant, baker, Castlereagh Street Sydney
Hely, Lucretia, 40, came free, Woodman, 1823
Hely, Francis, 11, came free, Woodman, 1823
Hely, Mary A., 15, came free, Woodman, 1823

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INQUISITION INTO THE DEATH OF JOHN HELY (1844)

Van Diemen's Land, to wit:

An Inquisition indented taken for our Sovereign Lady the Queen at the House of John Darrik known by the sign of the Ferry House at Launceston in the County of Cornwall within the Island of Van Diemen's Land this Twenty Second of October in the Seventh year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lady Victoria by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen Defender of the Faith before me Arthur Gardiner Esquire, one of the Coroners of our said Lady the Queen for the said Island and its Dependencies on view of the Body of John Hely then and there lying dead upon the Oaths of William Williamson, William Scott, Abraham Powell, William Hewson, Martin Wright, Reuben Lawrence and John Young, good and lawful men of the said Island and duly chosen and who being then and there duly sworn and charged to enquire for our said Lady the Queen when where how and after what manner the said "John Hely" came to his death, do upon their Oath say that the said "John Hely" on the Twenty Second day of October in the year aforesaid at Launceston in the County aforesaid died by the visitation of God from apoplexy.

And so the Jurors aforesaid upon their oath aforesaid do say that the said John Hely [...] to his Death in the manner and by the means aforesaid and not otherwise IN WITNESS whereof as well the said Coroner as the Jurors aforesaid have to this Inquisition set their Hands and Seals the day and year and [....] above mentioned.

The information on Oath of "John Hely" who saith I reside in Cimitiere Street Launceston. I am the son of the deceased. John Hely My Father did reside with me. Last Evening I received a message from him saying he was very ill. I went to him. I found him in an Eating House in Patterson Street. He told me he was very ill and that he was glad to see me. He was in bed. He asked me what I would do. I told him I would remove him to my own house. I removed him in a cart. On the way to the house he did not complain of any pain. I asked my father if he had been drinking. He said he had been drinking. When we got to my house we gave him some gruel and Tea and put him to bed - He asked for something to warm him and I gave him a glass of Hot grog. Deceased did not seem to be uneasy and between Eleven and Twelve O'clock I went to bed -

I got up this morning an hour before day-break. I went to deceased bed side he was awake - he asked for an emetic - saying there was something in his stomach. I gave him two and another glass of hot grog. Hi which he said he was better - He asked again for an emetic and said he wished to take it before half Past Six Oclock. Between five and Six Oclock. I went to Mr Cousins I saw a man attending in the shop. I do not know the mans name I would know him if I saw him. He asked me if I would wait for a few minutes and Mr Glaca would be there. I did not wait but up to Mr Sandersons I knocked them up. I got saw a Gentleman who attends Mr Sandersons shop. I told him I wanted an emetic. He asked me if it was for myself. I told him no. I told him it was for an aged man that has I believed had been drinking and he gave me the emetic and I returned home - an I mixed it in half a tumbler of water according to the directions given by the person at Mr Sandersons. I took it into the room where my Father the deceased was. He said is that it, I answered yes. He sat up in his bed and drunk it. He asked me what he was to take after it. I told him a little warm water. I left the room and was absent not much above a minute and on my return I found my father Dead. I did not hear the slightest noise. The deceased was covered up in bed just as I had left him. Deceased was about Sixty years of age. The body I have this day viewed with the Insp. is that of my Father the deceased "John Hely". Then I went out of my house and called John Brown. I was not quite certain my Father was quite dead.
John Hely

Taken and sworn before me at Launceston this 22nd day of October 1844
A Gardiner